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Living in
Burlington.
About
Life in Burlington
Burlington is a community of 23,800 people in Iowa. The median household income is $59,000, median rent runs about $931 per month, and median home values are around $114,300. Unemployment is low at 4.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Burlington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Foreign-Born
2.8%
Broadband Internet
85.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.8% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Burlington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Burlington, the largest foreign-born group is from India (45.8%), and 1.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
21.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.2%
of households
Married Couples
39.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.12
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Burlington
In Burlington, home values are 45% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,874
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $125,733 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above IA average
Unemployment in Burlington
Unemployment in Burlington is 1.2 percentage points higher than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Burlington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.1 min avg
How Burlington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Burlington, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Southeast Iowa Regional Airport (BRL)
Regional airport · few flights4,574 passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 20% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Burlington runs 20% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
263.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,307.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Burlington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
55.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Des Moines County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Des Moines County, which includes Burlington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2021 | 10 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 29 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Des Moines County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Van Buren County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 43 miles from Burlington) is typically good — 236 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
236
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Van Buren County, IA (43 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Burlington has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.0"
Annual Snowfall
21.8"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 15°F | 1.72" |
| Feb | 37°F | 19°F | 1.90" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.80" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.24" |
| May | 73°F | 52°F | 5.16" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.14" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 4.34" |
| Aug | 83°F | 64°F | 3.87" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.89" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.57" |
| Dec | 37°F | 21°F | 2.14" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Burlington
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Burlington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · West Burlington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Burlington
Burlington's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 61 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Burlington
Burlington has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (61 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
77 mi awayPublic Libraries in Burlington
Burlington Public Library
210 Court St, Burlington
Cities Near Burlington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Burlington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Burlington FAQ
Is Burlington, Iowa affordable?⌄
Burlington's median rent is $924/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,000/year. Median home value is $114,300.
Is Burlington, Iowa safe?⌄
Burlington's violent crime rate was 263 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1308 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Burlington, Iowa?⌄
Burlington has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Burlington, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Burlington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $924/month and median household income is $59,000/year. The median home value is $114,300. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Burlington, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Burlington is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from